A new study shows that men are more likely to find a woman's face 'attractive' when she has higher levels of estrogen in her body. The reason, according to researchers, is that men prefer women with 'feminine' faces. Faces that are described as 'feminine' are traditionally linked to a woman's reproductive health.
The results of the study, conducted by researchers at the University of St. Andrews, were published in the medical journal 'The Proceedings of the Royal Society.'
The researchers found that makeup can mask the effect. Dr. Miriam Law, the leader of the study, found no relationship between the level of estrogen and men's preference for a woman's face when the women covered their faces with makeup. The researchers say that makeup masks cues humans look for in the face of a potential mate.
The researchers photographed the faces of 59 women between the ages of 18 and 25 and analyzed the womens' estrogen levels. The women with higher estrogen levels were found to be more attractive, healthy and feminine looking than those with lower estrogen levels.
Women are effectively advertising their general fertility with their faces,' says Law Smith.
'Our findings could explain why men universally seem to prefer feminine women's faces. In evolutionary terms, it makes sense for men to favor feminine, fertile women,' she adds. 'Those that did would have had more babies.'
